Genesis 37:33 kjv

And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

Genesis 37:33 nkjv

And he recognized it and said, "It is my son's tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces."

Genesis 37:33 niv

He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces."

Genesis 37:33 esv

And he identified it and said, "It is my son's robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces."

Genesis 37:33 nlt

Their father recognized it immediately. "Yes," he said, "it is my son's robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!"

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 33 Meaning

Jacob immediately recognized Joseph's distinct tunic, stained with blood and torn, leading him to a grief-stricken conclusion: "It is my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” He erroneously believed his beloved son, Joseph, was dead, brutally killed by a wild beast, unaware it was a cruel deception orchestrated by his own jealous sons.

Genesis 37 33 Context

Genesis 37 recounts the beginnings of Joseph's difficult yet divinely purposed journey. The preceding verses establish Jacob's intense favoritism for Joseph, signified by the special, distinctive robe, and Joseph's controversial dreams foretelling his ascendancy over his family. These factors ignite extreme jealousy in his elder brothers. The brothers conspire to kill Joseph, but Reuben intervenes, leading them instead to cast him into a pit. While Reuben is away, the others sell Joseph into slavery. To cover their crime, they take Joseph's special robe, kill a goat, and dip the robe in its blood. Verse 33 describes the moment they present this blood-soaked garment to their father, Jacob, and his immediate, heart-wrenching reaction, convinced of his beloved son's brutal death by a wild animal. This deception marks a pivotal turning point, initiating Joseph's path to Egypt and ultimately to a position of power through which he would save his family during a future famine.

Genesis 37 33 Word analysis

• And he recognized it (וַיַּכִּירֶ֗הָ - wayyakkīrehā): From the Hebrew root nakar (נכר), meaning to recognize, know, or discern. This implies an immediate and unequivocal identification by Jacob, indicating how distinct the robe was, likely due to its unique pattern or significance to him. The instantaneous recognition solidifies the "evidence" for Jacob.
• and said (וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ - wayyōʾmer): Expresses the immediate verbalization of Jacob's understanding, reflecting his profound emotional response.
• “It is my son’s robe!” (כְּתֹ֣נֶת בְּנִ֑י - kĕthoneth bĕni):
  • Kĕthoneth (כתנת): A tunic, a long robe with sleeves. Here, it is the kĕthonet passīm (כתנת פסים) mentioned in Gen 37:3, often translated as "coat of many colors" or "long robe with sleeves." This was not an ordinary garment; it symbolized Jacob's special favor for Joseph. Jacob's immediate recognition of this specific robe seals the success of the brothers' deception. The possessive "my son's" highlights his deep affection and the personal tragedy.
• “A wild animal has devoured him." (חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלַ֤תְהוּ - ḥayyāh rāʿāh ăkālath·hu):
  • Ḥayyāh rāʿāh (חַיָּה רָעָה): Literally "evil beast" or "wild animal." This is the core of the brothers' fabrication, chosen to suggest a violent and complete demise without leaving a body. In the ancient world, wild animals were a real threat to shepherds and livestock, making this a plausible narrative.
  • ăkālath·hu (אֲכָלַ֤תְהוּ): From the root ʾakal (אכל), meaning "to eat," "to devour." It denotes a violent, consuming act, leaving no hope of survival or recovery.
• "Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” (טָרֹ֥ף טֹרַף יוֹסֵ֑ף - ṭārof ṭoraf Yôsep):
  • ṭārof ṭoraf (טרף טרף): This is an emphatic construction in Hebrew, an infinitive absolute (ṭārof) followed by the finite verb (ṭoraf), both from the root ṭāraf (טרף), meaning "to tear," "to rend," "to mangle." This double usage conveys absolute certainty and emphasizes the severity and violence of the supposed act – "torn, surely torn," "without doubt torn to pieces," "utterly rent apart." It portrays an undeniable, brutal end. This phrase highlights Jacob's utter despair and certainty, showing how effective the deception was.
  • Yôsep (יוֹסֵ֑ף): Joseph's name itself. The specific mention of Joseph's name brings the horror of the supposed event directly to him, confirming in Jacob's mind that it was indeed his beloved son who suffered such a terrible fate.

Words-group analysis:

• "And he recognized it and said, 'It is my son’s robe!'": This phrase highlights Jacob's intimate familiarity with the garment, so much so that its unique properties – even when damaged and stained – immediately trigger identification. This rapid recognition is what makes the brothers' cruel deception so immediately effective and devastating to their father.
• "A wild animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.”: These two statements represent Jacob's instantaneous leap to a horrific conclusion based on the false evidence. The combined force of "devoured" and the emphatic "torn to pieces" vividly conveys his absolute conviction in Joseph's violent and complete destruction, plunging him into a depth of grief from which he believes there is no recovery. This phrasing effectively communicates the immediate emotional and psychological impact of the deceit on Jacob.

Genesis 37 33 Bonus section

• Exploitation of Favoritism: The brothers' use of the unique robe specifically targeted Jacob's visible favoritism for Joseph. They understood this favoritism was a weakness and twisted it into an instrument of profound sorrow for their father.
• Symbolic Blood and Garment: The imagery of blood on a garment becomes a recurring motif in scripture. Here, it symbolizes deceit and perceived violent death. In contrast, later in the Bible, garments are washed clean with a different "blood" – that of Christ (e.g., Rev 7:14), signifying redemption from sin and death. This earlier scene, however tragic, hints at the profound theological uses of such imagery throughout God's unfolding story.
• Ignorance and Providence: While Jacob is consumed by grief, completely ignorant of the truth, God's sovereign hand is at work. The very act of deception and Joseph's sale into slavery are parts of a larger divine purpose, turning human evil into ultimate good, leading to the preservation of Jacob's family line and setting the stage for the Exodus.

Genesis 37 33 Commentary

Genesis 37:33 is a deeply poignant and critical verse that unveils the devastating immediate consequence of the brothers' calculated deception. The narrative skillfully builds to this moment of recognition and raw emotional outpouring from Jacob. The kethonet passim, a symbol of Jacob's distinctive favor for Joseph, ironically becomes the instrument of his torment, presented back to him as grisly "proof" of Joseph's death. Jacob's immediate and unequivocal recognition of the garment underscores the depth of his affection for Joseph, transforming it into the perfect vehicle for the brothers' cruel plot.

His declaration, "A wild animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces,” conveys a conviction beyond question. The use of the emphatic Hebrew phrase ṭārof ṭoraf perfectly captures the shattering finality and violent imagery Jacob immediately processes. This verse shows the sheer success of the brothers' fabrication, which preys upon Jacob's love and vulnerability. The grief it instills in Jacob (which is expanded upon in subsequent verses) is profound and enduring, highlighting the tragic weight of parental loss, particularly when perceived as sudden and brutal. The entire scene, though born of malice and deceit, is paradoxically a crucial step in God's redemptive plan for Joseph and, by extension, the entire nascent nation of Israel. It sets in motion the events that will lead Joseph to Egypt, ultimately preparing the way for his family's deliverance from famine and their preservation as the chosen people.